Phenyl hydroxypropyl sulfoxide enzyme inhibitors

Abstract

Organic sulfoxides having a latent allyl group bound to the sulfur are enzyme inhibitors of the suicide or Kcat type.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. The compound 3-p-nitrophenylsulfinyl-1-propanol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 
     
     
       2. A pharmaceutical enzyme inhibiting composition comprising a pharmaceutical carrier and an effective enzyme inhibiting amount of the compound 3-p-nitrophenylsulfinyl-1-propanol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 
     
     
       3. A method of inhibiting alcohol dehydrogenase in a patient in need of such treatment which comprises the administration of an enzyme inhibitory amount of a compound of structural formula: ##STR11## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein R is (a) phenyl, either unsubstituted or substituted with (1) nitro,   (2) cyano,   (3) C 1-3  alkylsulfonyl,   (4) C 1-3  alkoxycarbonyl,   (5) o-C 1-3  alkyl,   (6) o,o-di(C 1-3  alkyl), or   (7) di(trifluoromethyl).     
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3 wherein the compound is 3-p-nitrophenylsulfinyl-1-propanol.